Beachcombing -- Social Media

In the good old days, most of us got our news through printed newspapers and magazines or, to a lesser extent, radio and television. Welcome to the new age of journalism, where more than half of American adults now encounter news through social media, making these platforms one of the most influential channels for the spread of both accurate information and misinformation.

In fact, about 76% of Americans under 30 years old rely on social media for their news. That’s an alarming statistic, given its proliferation for falsehoods.

If you want to know what the public thinks about a specific topic, it’s easier to use a forum like Nextdoor to find out. We receive fewer letters to the editor at the Beachcomber these days because social media is faster and its writers are under the mistaken notion that their name and comments posted online are not within the public domain. They are and we will sometimes use them to provide an overview of public opinion.

On this topic, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Carl Bernstein has said that "The lowest form of popular culture – lack of information, misinformation, disinformation, and a contempt for the truth ... has overrun real journalism."

Today's social media environment can amplify misinformation, undermine trust, and challenge democratic discourse. On social media, everyone has a platform – even if they don't have a valid point to make.

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Last week I received an emailed 5,000-word investigative article from the Long Beach Watchdog about food writer Brian Addison, a prominent figure in Long Beach's restaurant scene. The article examines both his impact on local businesses and mounting criticism regarding his conduct, ethics and influence.

Written by Publisher Brandon Richardson, the article states that Addison has a large following through his website and Facebook group of more than 97,300 members. That’s an amazing following, if true, but I sincerely doubt it.

The article centers on a dispute with Arturo Enciso, co-owner of Gusto Bread, after Addison published information about a planned expansion before the business was ready to announce it. Critics argued that Addison failed to follow standard journalistic practices, while supporters defended his right to report information found in public records.

Numerous restaurant owners, former colleagues, and critics allege that Addison uses inconsistent standards regarding journalism and ethics. On the positive side, I’ve been impressed with some of Addison’s restaurant writing and once invited him via email to share some reviews with our readers but got no response.

The Watchdog article, “All my friends hate Brian Addison: The most influential man in Long Beach food is not without his critics” is relevant to understanding local social-media dynamics, influence, reputation management, and community reactions within the Long Beach food and business community.

I agree with former U.S. President Barack Obama, who said that "The internet is a tool. Social media is a tool. At the end of the day, tools don't control us. We control them. And we can remake them."

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The Beachcomber welcomes qualified “contributing columnists” who are willing to write 500-600 words (along with website or table images) about the various restaurants in our area. Content should include food items that are the most popular, cost, a few social media comments and some background information on the establishment. There’s no pay but think of the fun you’ll have. Bon appetit!

On the other hand, there’s a ballot on page four of this issue where you can vote on the various best eating places in Long Beach for specific food types. Participants in the “Best of Long Beach” contest – now in its 25^th year – are eligible to receive a $25 gift card from a drawing of the ballots received. Results of the balloting will be published in our September 18 edition. The deadline to participate is August 8.